Houses of pain

Partying at the Olympic Games takes on an international flavor and not just due to the peppermint Schnapps and current vodka. Many national governing bodies set up team houses for their athletes, team officials and visiting dignitaries. Let’s just say it doesn’t include a training table.

I do believe this practice began in 2002 in Salt Lake City where city officials refused to change drinking laws straight out of 18th century Iran. The Austrians and Germans organized their own party houses just to avoid storming the capital building.

Here in Vancouver, bars have expanded their hours to 3 a.m., 4 a.m. and in some cases, all night. Still, I went to two team houses Tuesday. The USA House had a party with free-flowing beer and wine with Canadian waitresses walking around with everything from salman sushi to crab cakes to chocolate cookies. It was all very tame, all very civilized, all very American.

Then I went across the street to the Irish House. Ireland? Winter Olympics? What doesn’t fit? Ireland has six athletes here and I really don’t want to get into a bobsled with two Irishmen on Guinness. The Irish House was a sprawling white tent with absolutely nothing free. It was $20 Canadian to get in, which included an $8 drink ticket. Sounds good? A can of Canadian brand beer was $8.

I found myself listening to four local Canadian women about who they thought was the hottest Canadian hockey player and then went to a real Irish House: Doolin’s Irish Pub next door.